Aeroplane control



G. .A. CLARK 2,103,933

AEROPLANE CONTROL Filed June 2, 1956 A iiorr eys I Inventor Patented Dec. 2 8, 1937 PATENT OFFICE,

7 2,103,933 AEROPLANE CONTROL George A. Clark, Filer, Idaho Application June 2,

1 Claim.

This invention relates to improvements in aeroplane control and the object of the invention is to simplify the controlling of the rudder, elevator, and ailerons of an aeroplane.

y In accordance with the present invention the rudders, elevators and ailerons are controlled from a single stick to the end that the aeroplane.

will be always under the direct control of the operator thus rendering it more safe for student flyers as well as for experienced airmen.

The invention together with its objects and advantages will be best understood from. a study of the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein the single view illustrates diagrammatically the improved aeroplane control embodying the features of the present invention.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals it will be seen that the numerals 5 indicate the ailerons of an aeroplane, while the elevators are indicated by the reference numerals 6 and the rudder by the reference numeral 1. The elements mentioned are mounted on the aircraft in the usual manner.

r In accordance with the present invention there is suitably mounted within the pilots cabin of the aeroplane a rock shaft 8 provided with a single control stick 9. 7

Shaft 8 at the respective opposite ends thereof is provided with crank arms'Hl in the form of plates there being one crank arm l for each elevator 6.

lhe upper end of each crank arm. in is connected through the medium of a cable Hand a depending lug l2 onthe underside of itsaileron with said aileron 5, while the lower end of each crank arm I0 is connected through the medium of a cable l3 and a lug Hi rising from the top Surface of the elevator 6, with said elevator 6. It will thus be seen that by working the lever 9 back and forth the elevators 6 may be raised or lowered as found desirable for the proper control of the aeroplane.

Also the ailerons 5 are provided on their top sides with upstanding lugs l5 to which are connected the relatively opposite ends of a cable l6 trained over suitably arranged pulleys ll. The ailerons 5 have depending from the undersides thereof lugs l8- to which are connected one end of cables I9 each of which at its respective opposite end is connected to a laterally extending plate or arm suitably mounted on the stick 9. Cables l9 are also trained oversuitably arranged pulleys 2!. Thus it will be seen that by rocking 5 the stick 9 either forwardly or backwardly the ailerons 5 will be elevated or lowered as found desirable and simultaneouslywith the elevating or lowering of the elevators 6.

The rudder I also has projecting from opposite sidesthereof lugs 22 .to which are connected one 1936, Serial No. 83,095

end of cables 23. Cables 23 cross one another and each is secured at its respective opposite end to a laterally extending plate or arm 24 secured on the stick 9 below the plate 20. Cables 23 are also trained over suitably locate'd pulleys 25. Thus by rocking the stick 9 laterally either to the right or left the elevator 6 will be swun either to the right or left for effecting a change in the path of travel of the aeroplane either to the right or left.

In connection with the above it will be understood, and as shown, that the stick 9 is pivoted at one end as at 25 to the shaft 8 so that the stick 9 may be swung laterally either to the right or left for operating the rudder 1 and for raising one of the ailerons 5 while at the same time the other of the ailerons 5 is lowered. Thus in this connection it will be noted that the ailerons 5 may be either raised or lowered simultaneously or one of the ailerons may be raised while the other is being lowered.

From the above it will be seen that the control elements of an aeroplane, namely the rudder, elevators, and ailerons maybe all operated from a single control stick thus simplifying to a great degree the control of an aeroplane. Accordingly, in addition to the safety feature thereof my improved aeroplane control will be found especially useful in the training of pilots as it will reduce considerably the time nowgenerally required for the novice to become efficient in the handling of the control elements of an aeroplane.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is:-

In a control mechanism for aeroplanes, a shaft rotatably journaled in the fuselage of an aeroplane transversely thereof, a control stick pivoted to theshaft for'indcpendent transverse movement,'said stick being also operable to rotate the shaft upon a forward and rearward movement of the stick, rocker arms onthe respective opposite ends of the shaft, a pair of elevator control wires secured at one end to the respective opposite end of each of the rocker arms, a plate member secured on said control stick, a pair of aileron control wires secured at one end to said plate at opposite sides of the control stick and connected to the ailerons of the aeroplane, a secondplate secured to the control stick adjacent the first named plate, and'control wires secured at one end to the respective opposite ends of the second named plate at opposite sides of the control stick 1 and connected to the rudder .of the aeroplane for simultaneously actuating the rudder and ailerons,

a control wire and laterally spaced pulleys adjacent said ailerons, said control wire being trained over said laterally spaced pulleys and connected at its respective opposite ends with the ailerons for transmitting movement of one aileron to the other.

GEORGE A. CLARK. 

